Victoria B.C. - Today Andrew Weaver, Leader of the B.C. Green Party and MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, introduced a Private Member’s bill entitled the Criminal Notoriety Act which would prevent convicted criminals from profiting in recounting their crimes.

“It is immoral that a convicted serial killer can potentially gain from retelling their crime,” says Weaver. “I’m not talking about censorship or limiting freedom of speech, but offenders should not be able to financially benefit from such actions. I greatly sympathize with the continued anguish facing victim’s families in these tragic situations.”

While there is no legislation in British Columbia that prevents criminals from financially benefiting in recounting their crimes, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia all have laws that specifically prevent it.

“It was a relatively simple piece of legislation to bring forward,” says Weaver. “The Criminal Notoriety Act is based off Nova Scotia’s model and is a practicable bill that the government should carry forward. I see no reason why it couldn’t be brought into legislation by the end of this session.”